Downregulation of PAR expression induces the apoptosis of human prostate cancer PC3 cells and increases the Bcl-2/Bax ratio / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of the downregulated expression of the prostate androgen regulated (PAR) gene on the cell cycle and apoptosis of PC3 cells as well as on the expression level of Bcl-2/Bax.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>After transfecting PC3 cells with small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting PAR, we detected the inhibitory effect of PAR depletion on the proliferation of the PC3 cells by MTT assay, determined their apoptosis by flow cytometry, and measured the expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bax by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of PAR was suppressed by siRNA, the G2-M phase PC3 cells were increased to (29.95 +/- 3.25)%, and the apoptosis of the cells was enhanced to (20.61 +/- 2.73)%, with statistically significant difference from the control group (P < 0.01). Western blot showed a decreased expression of Bcl-2, an increased expression of Bax, and an elevated ratio of Bax to Bcl-2.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Downregulation of the PAR expression increases the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and Bax expression, and thus induces the G2-M phase arrest and apoptosis of PC3 cells.</p>